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The weather is giving French import Articus a knockout chance in Saturday’s $250,000 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.

Trainer Kris Lees has opted to run the seven-year-old in the Group 2 feature rather than a Benchmark 88 on Saturday’s program.

Articus would have carried 59.5kg a claim in the latter race compared to the limit of 53kg in the Villiers where the bonus for the winner is ballot exemption from the

Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.

The stable has drawn a comparison with Sense Of Occasion’s upset Villiers victory two years ago to rate Articus as a chance of repeating the feat due to the forecast of rain through Friday into Saturday.

Sense Of Occasion came from well back to land the Villiers on a soft track at odds of $31 after much longer prices were bet.

Stable spokesman Lucas Miller said soft conditions will favor Articus.

“He has an inside draw, only 53kg with Andrew Gibbons to ride and is a real knockout chance if the rain comes,” Miller said.

“He spelled really well, put on condition and has turned his form around with two excellent performances this time.”

Articus has won on both soft and heavy ground, and resumed with a second to Mahalangur on a soft 7 in a Benchmark 88 (1400m) at Randwick on October 20 with 59kg.

He then ran third from an awkward draw to Interlocuter and Fabrizio in the Goulburn Cup (1600m) on November 25 on a good 3.

Both his Goulburn Cup rivals also tackle the Villiers - Fabrizio dropping from 61.5kg to 59kg, Interlocuter from 57kg to 56.5kg while Articus comes down 2kg to 53kg.

Lees’ other Randwick runners are Star Reflection (Tommy Berry) and last-start winner Kool Vinnie (apprentice Brock Ryan).

“Kool Vinnie has been an unlucky horse and deserved his latest Rosehill win. He probably should have won four of his last 10 starts,” Miller said.

“His last 1400m run was in the Provincial Championships Final at this track in April when he finished seventh and that was one of his unlucky performances.

“He has drawn the inside and hopefully there will be pace on to enable him to produce his strong finish.”

Ryan’s 3kg claim drops Kool Vinnie’s weight to 57.5kg.